The Champ & The Chump

By: James McNicholas

Narrated by: James McNicholas

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A heartwarming, hilarious true story about fighting and family, based on the acclaimed stage show. For fans of books by Dave Gorman, James Acaster and Danny Wallace, along with boxing tales from the likes of Tyson Fury and Ricky Hatton.

The Champ

Terry Downes - known as 'The Paddington Express' - was a world champion boxer, US Marine, gangsters' favourite and latter-day film star and businessman.

The Chump

James McNicholas' PE teacher once told him he was so unfit he'd be dead by the time he was 23. James has spent his life pursuing a career in acting and comedy. In reality, that has meant spells working as a painter-decorator and river cruise salesperson.

After Terry's death, James finds himself in reflective mood, comparing how he's doing in life to how his grandad was at that age. What follows is an increasingly colourful journey that takes James from post-war Paddington to the blood-soaked canvases of Baltimore and Whitechapel, via Mayfair parties with the Krays and betting-shop bust-ups, as he discovers the truth about his grandfather's extraordinary life.

Along the way, he begins to dig into his own story, confronting the family addictions that blighted his early years, describing his often hilarious efforts to make it in the world of showbiz and attempts to recreate Terry's trials by enlisting in a brutal army boot camp and boxing gym. When James is diagnosed with a frightening and mysterious neurological condition, the two stories of the fighter and the writer suddenly collide, and what began as a nostalgic journey takes on a far more important significance.

©2021 James McNicholas (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Great story

James from Gunnerblog does it again, it was great to hear more about his life and he obviously is hilarious so that helps too.

Proud

What a supremely entertaining and satisfying book this turned out to be. James is a skilled storyteller who recounts the trials and tribulations of his own life with the same aplomb and wit as the recount of his world champion boxer grandfather, all the time deftly using insight and humor to make the reader’s experience immensely pleasurable. There is one thing I would like to offer James, after reading his gratifying tale and gaining an iota of insight into his colossus of a grandfather: I have no doubt that Terry, who, as recounted by James, paid the same level of respect to every person he met regardless of so called status, would have nothing but the highest respect and admiration for his grandson, especially given the challenges he’s faced and the manner in which he’s faced them. Thank you for this enjoyable book, Mr. Arsecast Extra.

Terrific book which is both funny and interesting

Great book, wonderfully and hilariously narrated by the Chump, James McNicholas. I really loved how James was able to tell the story of his Grandfather, the world champ boxer, while drawing the parallels (and differences) with his own life.

As a listener of James's podcasts, I knew that the Audiobook was the way to go. James tells the story in a way that made me laugh out loud many times, and also gave me great insight into his "unusual" grandfather's road to success, his larger than life personality, as well as the battle that James has faced against his own challenges in life.

Fabulous book from start to finish.

What a story; what a delivery; what a book. This was such a joy to listen to. Thank you, James, for sharing this with us. Catch you on the Arsecast!

loved it

read it at a difficult time, after a loss in my family. enjoged the story, the emotion, the humor.

Funny and inspirational.

I laughed alot and even teared up at times. A wonderful true story that left me feeling better about my own struggles. Knowing anything about boxing is definitely not needed. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

The Chump is a Champ

An excellent story and performance from James McNicholas. His self-deprecating humor along with his intimate retelling of both his own and his grandfather’s life makes for a wonderful listen. As someone who has been a big fan (and staunch Twitter defender) of McNicholas from his comedy to his journalism, this one is a knockout.

An Honest Look into Mental Health and Legacy

Like most, I came to find this James’ work through the Arseblog podcast. I got this book in audio format because listening to James talk arsenal for an hour and a half a week wasn’t cutting it. As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed his narration.

James’ ability to be brutally honest with himself and the reader when examining his family legacy and how it relates to his mental health is a refreshing approach. I get the feeling that writing it must have been an incredibly cathartic experience and has opened me up to re-examining my past in a new light.

I decided not to mention specific details about the book because the stories are too good to give away. If you know James from other content you’ll know what I mean. Read it, nerd.

A great recounting of a unique and moving story

You don’t need to be a fan of boxing or comedy to enjoy this narration. An extraordinary journey through illness and (partial) recovery, interwoven with James’s personal account of the incredible life of his beloved grandfather, a world boxing champion and archetypal cockney, this story is interesting, moving and occasionally hilarious. Told in the authors dulcet tones and self-deprecatory style, it’s definitely worth a listen-you won’t regret it.

It’s a journey

James McNicholas is brilliant
It’s a geographic and historic journey , an invitation to personal experience without intrusion
You will feel like a champ and a chump
Thanks James